Elite hackers target WHO as coronavirus cyberattacks spike

Record ID: 1465493

  • Title: Elite hackers target WHO as coronavirus cyberattacks spike
  • Date: 23rd March 2020
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (FILE - JANUARY 22, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF WHO HEADQUARTERS
  • Embargoed: 6th April 2020 23:08
  • Keywords: WHO World Health Organization coronavirus hack
  • Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / INTERNET / WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES
  • City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / INTERNET / WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Health/Medicine
  • Reuters ID: LVA005C69YMO7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Elite hackers tried to break into the World Health Organization's computers earlier this month, sources told Reuters, part of what a senior agency official said was a more than two-fold increase in cyberattacks.
    WHO Chief Information Security Officer Flavio Aggio said the identity of the hackers was unclear and the effort was unsuccessful. But he warned that hacking attempts against the agency and its partners have soared as they battle to contain the coronavirus, which has killed more than 15,000 worldwide.
    The attempted hack at the WHO was first flagged to Reuters by Alexander Urbelis, a cybersecurity expert and attorney with the New York-based Blackstone Law Group, which tracks suspicious internet domain registration activity.
    Urbelis said he picked up on the activity around March 13, when a group of hackers he'd been following activated a malicious site mimicking the WHO's internal email system.
    Urbelis said he didn't know who was responsible, but two other sources briefed on the matter said they suspected an advanced group of hackers known as DarkHotel, which has been conducting cyber-espionage operations since at least 2007.
    The WHO published an alert last month warning that hackers are posing as the agency to steal money and sensitive information from the public.
    (Production: Helena Williams)
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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